as in to backfire
to have the reverse of the desired or expected effect
the well-meaning gesture boomeranged, since he ended up being offended by it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boomerang
Verb
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That nearly backfired after Butler and Kuminga came out hot.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 May 2025 -
How the invasion of Canada backfired on the patriots Congress, for its part, was all but absent in orchestrating the war effort in faraway Canada.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
12 May 2025
Verb
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This is often not helped when an investment collapses or defaults, and commentators online and other advisory companies increase client doubts.—
Adam Fayed,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
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After his 4-foot putt went in during the one-hole playoff against Justin Rose, McIlroy threw his golf club in the air and collapsed to the ground.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
People.com,
15 May 2025
Verb
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So Oettinger, out of sheer desperation, flopped to his right, awkwardly because his right foot sort of got caught under him, and swatted the puck down with two hands.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
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Last night’s after-party offered an inclusive and welcoming environment, where folks flopped on an array of comfy sofas to take a break from dancing. Passport: Explore the finest destinations and experiences around the world in the Forbes Passport newsletter.—
Natasha Gural,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Boomerang.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boomerang. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
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